Richie Blackmore is set to tour the U.K. in 2017, with Rainbow confirming four dates that includes a headline appearance at Stone Free Festival in London. The June dates follow on from the guitarist's triumphant sold-out show at the Birmingham Genting Arena earlier this year.

By Eamon O'Neill On 7th December 2016.

Richie Blackmore is set to tour the U.K. in 2017, with Rainbow confirming four dates that includes a headline appearance at Stone Free Festival in London. The June dates follow on from the guitarist's triumphant sold-out show at the Birmingham Genting Arena earlier this year.

As well as headlining the second annual Stone Free Festival at The O2, London - which will be Blackmore’s first London show since 1995 - the guitarist will play further shows in Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham.

Playing classics from both Rainbow and Deep Purple’s anthemic catalogue, the legendary guitarist is universally acknowledged as a singular and visionary talent, and one who has helped shape and define the landscape of rock music and the evolution of the guitar at its core. With a background immersed in classical and r’n’b he was a founding member and driving force of Deep Purple, going on to form Rainbow in 1973, who sold in excess of twenty-eight million albums.

The Ritchie Blackmore Rainbow tour promises to be an unmissable event, not only for Deep Purple and Rainbow fans, but also those who want to soak up the electrifying genius of the legendary guitarist live and to revel in the unforgettable songs he crafted with two of music’s most celebrated bands. Blackmore will also be joined by former stalwart Meister Bob on bass, Blackmore Nights’ drummer David Keith, Stratovarius’s keyboardist Jens Johansson and singer, Ronnie Romero from Santiago, Chile who Blackmore describes as; “a cross between Ronnie James Dio meets Freddie Mercury.”

Starting the U.K. tour at The O2 in London, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow will be the headline act for the 2017 Stone Free Festival. Following the hugely successful and highly acclaimed inaugural Stone Free Festival in June this year – which featured electrifying performances from the likes of Alice Cooper, Rick Wakeman, The Darkness, Marillion and many more – the festival returns with even more stages next year, utilising the full array of facilities at The O2 including the Brooklyn Bowl. It will again feature a full line-up of artists and events such as the Speakeasy Lounge and the vinyl fair, alongside special acoustic performances, cinema screenings and exclusive after parties.

Further details regarding the line-up of Stone Free Festival 2017 will be revealed in due course.